Curtis Institute of Music Family Concerts Present Winter House with VOCES8’s Paul Smith February 23

PHILADELPHIA—February 10, 2020—The 2019–20 season of the Curtis Institute of Music’s popular Family Concert series continues with Paul Smith’s Winter House on Sunday, February 23 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Gould Rehearsal Hall. The new program uses music performed by a string and vocal ensemble to inspire individual expression through movement and sound.

Winter House will encourage confidence and creativity in young audiences, providing opportunities to make the music one’s own. Curtis soprano Olivia Smith and a string orchestra of student performers help Paul Smith, baritone and cofounder of international vocal ensemble VOCES8, to introduce new tunes from around the world. Families will provide their own creative responses—from improvised vocal sounds to rhythmic clapping and more—to the music they hear.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children, and are available through the Curtis Patron Services Office at (215) 893-7902.

Awakening a sense of wonder in listeners ages 5 to 12, Curtis Family Concerts share music with young audiences through interactive, educational presentations. Performances take place in a friendly setting, uniting entertainment with exploration.

Paul Smith is an innovative and creative performer, conductor, composer, an inspirational educator, and an empowering public speaker. As co-founder of VOCES8, author of The VOCES8 Method and CEO of the VOCES8 Foundation, he works in prestigious concert venues, festivals, schools, and universities around the globe.

Mr. Smith is passionate about the impact singing and the arts can have in the widest possible context—from academic improvement to social skills and building more cohesive communities. He uses that passion to design and deliver unique, inclusive, and uplifting performance projects.

In 2019–20, Mr. Smith’s season highlights include leading the Singing Brussels Celebration with BOZAR Brussels; touring in support of his new album and concert program, Reflections; conducting the Orchestre Régional Avignon-Provence in several concerts for families and young people; leading concerts series with the Israeli Vocal Ensemble in Israel and with VOCES8 and Apollo5 in France; and concerts and workshops in Germany, the U.S., New Zealand, Japan, and the VOCES8 Centre in London.

In the 2019–20 school year, the Curtis Institute of Music celebrates 95 years of educating and training exceptionally gifted young musicians to engage a local and global community through the highest level of artistry. With a small student body of about 175, Curtis provides each young musician with an unparalleled education alongside musical peers, distinguished by personalized attention from celebrated faculty and a “learn by doing” philosophy. To ensure that admissions are based solely on artistic promise, Curtis makes an investment in each admitted student so that no tuition is charged for their studies. Curtis students hone their craft through more than 200 orchestra, opera, and solo and chamber music offerings each year in Philadelphia and around the world.

CURTIS FAMILY CONCERTS: Winter House

Sunday, February 23 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Gould Rehearsal Hall, Lenfest Hall, 1616 Locust Street, Philadelphia

Paul Smith, baritone

With additional performers:

Tickets: $12 for adults and $15 for children, sold by the Curtis Patron Services Office at (215) 893-7902.

#  #  #